Newbie Question

[itchban]

Hi all, I setup a 16 gallon fresh water fish tank in my house about 2 to 3 months ago. Got a bunch of small fishes in it (8 neon tetras, 6 remaining male guppies, a couple of white fish that are flat and looks kind of like silver dollar and I forgot the name for 8 more small fish with a dark blue triangle from the mid-section to the tail). Overall I think the tank is doing well and my family and I enjoy the addition very much.

Ever since the beginning, I have been very good about exchanging the water in the tank. Replacing about 1/4 of the tank with fresh water once a week. Recently I purchased a gravel cleaning suction tub thing from the pet store because the gravel on the bottom was starting to look real nasty. The devise works great and now I can change the water much faster and I am pulling out a lot of sediment from the bottom too. However, my question is, is this new process causing un-due stress to my fish? With the tub stirring up the gravel so much the fishes have almost no places to hid because my tank is so small am I stressing my fishes too much. Also is the sediment much of an issue besides aesthetics? I have done this for about two weeks and so far none of the fishes have die or show much sign of stress after the water is replenished. But any feedback is greatly appreciated.

 

[TKOS]

When I use my gravel vacuum I tend to stay to one are of the tank per change. This reduces the amount of stress on my fish (IMO) as it gives them a place to go to. Also you should have some hiding spots in that tank so the fish can disapear if they need to.

It sounds like you have a few too many fish in that tank so make sure to keep up with the water changes. 25% may not be good enough, I would aim for 50%.

 

[CJC]

I have to agree that it sounds like you have too many fish for the size of tank you have. If they fish you think are silver dollars are actually silver dollars, I know that they get large in size.

When you are changing the water do you take all the decoration out?

I would definetly start doing a larger water change.

 

[Roan Art]

Definitely start doing at least 50% water change per week and please look into getting a larger tank. That 16gallon is terribly over crowded.

It's important that you try to find out if those fish you have are really silver dollars. They will get 6-8" and almost as tall, depending on the genus/species, and grow very fast. They belong in a minimum 65g tank in schools of six or more.

Roan

 

[Fish Kate]

...and I forgot the name for 8 more small fish with a dark blue triangle from the mid-section to the tail)...

Those sound like Harlequin Rasboras to me. When I started to keep fish I used to forget their names, so I always wrote down the names of the fish I purchased on a little list in case I had future questions about them.
:dance2:

I agree that you might want to find new homes for your larger fish to keep your tank happy and healthy.

 

[carriebourdeau]

The silver dollars could also be hatchet fish. Do they hover near the top?